MrSMW

I think that is about the sum of it Kye. Yep. It was more a 'can I really work with manual focus all the time' rather than 'can I work with a vintage lens' and the answer to that is I guess nope, not really. Not for what I do and how I work. The conclusion is I prefer my AF to acquire approach and then lock focus technique.

The verdict... Mixed actually. Keeping it, but putting it into a purely static role. I have not yet edited the footage and created a finished production, but trawled through enough of the clips to get a solid idea. I think if I was purely a videographer, I'd get a matte box and go with something like this or one of the modern cine zooms such as the Laowa 28-70 or the DZO 35-80. Probably the Laowa because from what I have seen in side by side comparison, I prefer the rendering which is a slightly more contrasty modern look. The CZ40-80 is the exact opposite. Not completely softer, but much softer and less contrasty. From what I have seen, the DZO is somewhere between but more towards the Laowa. But I am a hybrid shooter and my overall conclusion is a pure manual focus lens does not have a place as my main roaming video lens. Anyway, this lens... IBIS was OK as was focusing most of the time. Focus would have been easier/better on the S1H rather than the S5ii because it's a slightly bigger and brighter screen. Even better with a 5 or 7 inch monitor, but then we're getting into videographer territory rather than hybrid shooter so a no no for me and the S1H is my primary stills unit. But the 40 + 80 mm focal lengths that I used it at were perfect for me. Close focus was terrible at well over 1 metre/3 feet so not a good lens at all for any kind of detail work. So as above, keeping it and welding it on to one of my S5ii's, (the injured one with a half press AF issue). Static duty only for ceremonies or speeches where it shines as switching on or off does not lose focus as it does with these modern fly by wire focus lenses where you have to reset it every time, even when set in manual mode. I've decided that as much as I prefer shooting 6k 30p for the quality, it's a bit of a pain in the arse being able to shoot shutter angle outdoors, but indoors, having to switch to 1/50th in order to avoid or at least massively reduce, any flickering/banding. So back to 4k 50p it is. Shooting 4k 50p means with my other S5ii, my roving video unit, I can use the tiny Sigma 18-50mm f2.8 (27-75) again, making for a nice compact unit that is not too heavy. Yes, weight has a certain quality for stability purposes, but it gets wearing, even for a fit bloke over a full day. That just leaves the S1H which is still my favourite camera (that I have owned or used) in a primarily stills role, but hybrid during ceremony & speeches when both the S5ii's are pulling static duty. Still toying what to do with this as there are pros and cons to keeping separate stills and video units or having them all hybrid. It's the lenses that are causing me the biggest issue as they have done since embarking on this hybrid journey over a decade ago. Right now, my top 3/4 bodies are; R3, Z9/Z8 and S1H. The lenses I would like are all Sony fit however, though can be adapted or coming to Nikon. L Mount/the S1H has only one lens that I'm really a fan of/suits my needs and that is the Sigma 28-70mm f2.8 It's a dilemma because there are 3 principle options: A. Flip to Canon R3 for stills/hybrid, but it's 10k to do so, or 7k including trade in of S1H and a couple of lenses. For a single, not sideways, but marginal improvement, unit. The main appeal would be weight saving which is considerable. I could then explore shooting 6k 50p and pulling stills however which is a big future potential thing for me... B. Flip to Nikon Z9 or Z8 for stills/hybrid and as with the Canon, a considerable cost to trade of around 6k. I prefer the weight savings with the Canon set up, but I could explore 8k 50p now for pulling those stills... C. Stick with the S1H whose real only weaknesses are: bulk/weight (with grip and lens choices over the above options), lacks PDAF and battery grips annoy me as there is always slight movement in them. The big plus with this option though is what the S1H replacement might be... I just can't make a decision one way or the other but I'm fairly confident the pair of S5ii's will remain as dedicated video units and ideally, the stills/hybrid unit would remain in the same ecosystem, but not opposed to having a 'next gen' pro unit in the mix and arguably the R3/Z9/Z8 are the current next gen units. OK, the Sony A1 also is, but additional battery grip and it doesn't work for me. R3's, despite being more expensive new, are going for 500+ less than Z9's in equivalent condition... It's not simple. It never is.

OK, reading a lot of negative reports about the Samyang 35-150. Slightly bigger and heavier than the Tamron and suffers from severe lens creep. Erm, not good. OK, if cost-saving is your thing and why would it not be, but for me it does not compare with the Tamron. But then there has been no mention of it becoming available anyway...

Competition for sure. Although the 35-150 is the most perfect (that exists) ‘one & done’ lens for me, in many ways, the combo of 28-75 plus 70-180 has as much, if not more appeal. The 35-150 is faster at the wide end for low light stuff, but low light for me is mostly indoor and for indoor, the 28-75 works better for me, 90%+ of the time. For outdoor, most of the time, 35-150 works better…except for those times when I want longer and since getting my 70-200 (haven’t had one for over a decade), I realise what an important part of my armory 150-200 is and 180 beats 150. And just as I had decided the Z9 was the ultimate hybrid for my needs, I then decided actually the Canon R3 is…but has none of these lenses 🤪 But then neither does L Mount except the Sigma 28-70… Bodies and lenses never seem to match up with me!

Oppie won. I would rather have seen it in IMAX, but no such thing around here other than local rural French cinemas (think 1980’s UK or US) and though in English language, with French subtitles. Great film, really enjoyed it but yes, some of the dialogue was tricky in places. At the time I thought maybe it was too low in the cinema, but seems like it was more than that.

I am 1/2 a camera down at the moment… One of my S5ii’s is reduced to manual focus only due to a shutter button issue. I could send it off now, but mid season, no chance because it could be weeks, it could be months and rental (replacement), ha, fat chance and if even a week/10 days, purchase/resale would make more sense. So then would not a used… OMG, rabbit hole entered 🤪

I've seen the leak for what's coming and when due to the strike:

In fact, if they (Tamron) were to announce the 20-40mm f2.8 also, that would be it, done deal, I know what I'd be doing over the Winter... (trading everything for a Z9, a Z8, the 20-40 and the 35-150).

Samyang need to do this for L Mount. L Mount is really beginning to lose some ground when it comes to glass now... This 'Wedding Photographer Single Camera Dream Lens', Tamron's 20-40mm f2.8, their 70-180mm f2.8 which albeit 20mm shorter, is more compact/shorter, lighter and faster than any available f4. Some of the newer Leica lenses are re-badged Sigma which may have a different coating and slightly different housing, but cost twice as much for that privilege. The native zooms from old Pannyboy are big and heavy and the f1.8 primes whilst optically pretty decent, plasticky and boring. Sigma Art too big and heavy but the f2/2.8 Contemporary stuff is good and my pick for primes and shorter zooms. Nikon already has access to more of what I am looking for natively, or adapted as all the Tamron stuff will adapt. I am sure L Mount will respond, but they need to get a fecking move on!

It was postponed until this evening for me so it’s still up in the air…

Peter Pirate McKinnon is definitely Nexus 6

1 man in this house and 2 women… One of them made pink cupcakes earlier…

This evening, Oppenheimer or Barbie?

LX15

Funnily enough, I have been thinking about picking up one of these sub 500 euro beauties because I do have a requirement every now and again for another static angle and a bigger camera and tripod is a bit overkill. Might just push the button on one…

I have not seen a single piece of footage I like shot with the Helios yet. Maybe it’s just my taste, but it just looks like a swirly mess to me. Having said that, I’m shooting all weekend with a vintage lens for the first time so interested to see what that produces… Yes, I have tested it, just not extensively and it’s a much less ‘interesting’ shall we say rendering. Fairly low on contrast, quite neutral in its colour but as with most older lenses, boy does it not like being shot into the sun. Not sure if this is going to be an issue for me as a long term proposition and whether I might be better off swapping this approx 700g 1975 40-80 f3.5 for a modern cine zoom such as the DZO 35-80 or Laowa 28-70 with their modern coatings? But extra 1kg… I’m sure that extra 1kg is not all lens coating… CVP did a side by side and I prefer the results from the Laowa, but the DZO has a better focal range for me. But anyway, getting off topic. FX3, I think it’s a great bit of kit and would shoot one in a heartbeat.

At least… I think they should have either launched the GH6 sooner than they did, or waited even longer and gave it PDAF. For me, it was a moment like when Fuji released the XH1 only to pop out the XT3 6 months later. GH6 and S5ii… I know we can’t always have everything we want, when we want it and the GH6 ticks a lot of boxes for many but the lack of phase and the need to shoot what is it, 2000 iso to get the most DR requiring a lot of ND? I went off it at that point and tried an OM-1 which I loved…except not so much video. M4/3 died for me then. Not because there is anything inherently wrong with it, just that APSC and FF offers me more of what I personally want. I would like to see the format developed and who knows. I never say never, just what works.

The wait for the GH6 was years. I suspect any GH7 might not be perhaps as long but I wouldn’t imagine anything sooner than 2025? Just speculating…

This 6-12 month strike… Is it really 6-12 months or just the potential for as in it might get sorted one way or the other within the next few weeks? As is usual with these things, both sides have a point or points and there’s always a knock on effect for someone, somewhere, but what should folks do? Never protest, never speak out? Damned if you do, damned if you don’t. The twats at French air traffic control cause mayhem in Europe several times every Summer and it’s like a ritual. I don’t think they even know why they do it other than they can and “haven’t done one for a while”.

Which I probably do not 'need'. 45mp is nice to have for stills, but it's not like I am having any issues with 24mp. 8k is probably slight overkill for my needs and 6k (that I mainly currently use), a bit of a sweet spot. Like 24mp is for stills. Glad to have been of service 😉 But seriously, as above, I overlooked this camera myself. Aware of it's existence, but for whatever reason, did not seriously consider it. The Nikon maybe, all factors considered, is the better, on paper, starting from scratch, option, but for my specific requirements, I think right now, the R3 would probably be my pick over the Z9 because as an all round proposition, all factors considered, it ticks even more boxes. It's also the most costly of any/all options though... Not that I am doing anything anytime soon, - just musing 😀

I’ve never owned a Canon and never paid that much attention to them as a brand. Compared with other options at least. I was aware of course that until Sony pitched up, they were the dominant brand in photography especially. I have considered them from time to time and one camera I have never really paid much attention to was/is the R3. Wow. For a hybrid shooter like me and my specific current needs and future needs, it ticks all of the boxes. It’s not a ‘cinema’ camera, but neither are my needs for such a type. For an integrated battery grip camera, it’s pretty light, especially compared with the Z9 and my S1H with battery grip. Lens-wise, I am currently really enjoying my Lumix 70-200mm f4 except it’s a bit of a lump. OK, the f2.8 version even more of a lump, but compared with the RF 70-200 equivalent, it’s a lump. In fact, my S1H with battery grip with 70-200, is a whopping 1kg heavier. And in the hand all day, that is MASSIVE. The only lens missing from their line up for me is a compact lightweight 28-70 f2.8. But it’s got my 6k 50p FF internal doesn’t it with raw option if/when required, especially useful (probably) if I wanted to pull stills. It’s going on The List. I think a Z8/Z9 and lens options still probably trumps an R3/R6ii with it’s lens options, all things considered, but I’d take a much closer look if any future Lumix does not tick my boxes. The R3 seems a little over-looked and under-discussed, but maybe I just haven’t been looking…

3 day wedding with it this weekend… I’m not anticipating any issues, but the only way to truly test anything is in the heat of battle! The next gen S1 line (S2) surely will and trump them all for outright video specs. Is my prediction…

I’d go more ‘sideways’ with Sony as from a stills perspective, I’d say ahead, video behind but lenses ahead. Canon R5c no IBIS so out of the picture for me. I do really like the R3 though! I am just going to sit on my fence for the rest of this year though as happy with what I currently have for my current needs + big extra tax bill of 14k dumped on me because someone at the tax office made an error in their calculations last year. Plus just want to see what happens in L Mount land for next year. One thing is certain and that is I will change something up next year and it will either be, in order of expectation: Swap my S5ii’s for S2H’s, or even Sigma may spring a surprise… Back to Nikon after 13 years. Then Sony. Outside chance of Canon.

I have not had the chance...yet, but would like to because as with anything in this world, what anyone else is doing does not really matter, only what YOU are doing. My next quest is to see: A. If I can take my hybrid capture to the next level which would be stills + video + stills from video. It's the latter I am currently missing because 4k does not cut it for me. It just doesn't. I've tested that one out and it's either 6 or 8k to get the kind of result I would want. B. To see if raw video would then make a difference in that regard. C. And only then decide whether it has any place in my future or whether stills from video could replace any form of stills capture in the first place. I am sure it is very much a case of those with the highest budgets can pull the most from 'lesser' material whereas those with the smallest budgets can sometimes do with the extra bit of help/latitude etc that tech can sometimes bring. So it doesn't surprise me at all that wedding videographers might shoot in 4k+ whilst Hollywood is 'only' shooting 2k a lot of the time. I think I need an IMAX camera next... I've seen BarbieHeimer on YouTube. I'm gonna make WeddingHeimer 😉

Almost certainly. I am a hybrid of both a black sheep and a lone wolf, which makes for what should be polar opposites…but just is who I am. That desert island they talk about. Yup, I could happily live on it. Invite me to a party/social event and I’m going to spend considerable time in working out how to get out of it 😉 I don’t have complete self control and I doubt anyone truly has, but a higher degree than most, but yes, PLENTY I can’t do!